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Pololu A4988 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier (Green Edition)

A go-to driver for NEMA 17 / CNC / 3D printer style builds.  A4988 carrier is a compact breakout for Allegro’s A4988 microstepping bipolar stepper motor driver, giving you a simple STEP/DIR interface, adjustable current limiting, and selectable microstepping down to 1/16 step. It runs from 8–35V motor supply and can deliver about ~1A per phase without heatsink/forced air (up to 2A per coil with sufficient cooling). 

  • 5 microstep modes: Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16 step (MS1/MS2/MS3). 
  • Current limit trimpot: set coil current so you can use higher VMOT for better step response without overdriving the motor. 
  • Protections: over-temperature shutdown, under-voltage lockout, crossover-current protection, and short-to-ground/shorted-load protection. 
  • “Drop-in” A4983 form factor: same 16-pin layout used by many RepRap/CNC carrier-style drivers. 
Important (read this):
• This carrier uses low-ESR ceramic capacitors and can be damaged by LC voltage spikes when using long power leads—Pololu recommends adding a 47µF+ electrolytic capacitor across VMOT and GND close to the board. 
• Never connect/disconnect the motor while powered—this can destroy the driver. 
• Above ~1A/phase, plan for heatsinking/airflow (the board can get hot enough to burn before thermal shutdown). 

Why/Benefits

Easy control from any microcontroller
  • Simple STEP and DIR pins—works with Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico, etc.
  • Microstepping for smoother motion and quieter operation 
  • Adjustable current limit for safer tuning
Made for real loads
  • Motor supply range: 8–35V :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
  • Rated up to 2A/coil with sufficient cooling; ~1A/phase typical without heatsink/forced air
  • Built-in fault protections reduce “oops” moments 

Technical specifications

Product Pololu A4988 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier (Green Edition)
Motor type Bipolar stepper (4-wire; 6/8-wire can be wired as bipolar; 5-wire unipolar not supported)
Control interface STEP / DIR + MS1/MS2/MS3 (microstep select)
Motor supply (VMOT) 8–35V
Logic supply (VDD) 3–5.5V
Microstepping Full, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16
Output current ~1A/phase without heatsink/forced air; up to 2A/coil with sufficient cooling
Board size 15.3 × 20.3 mm (typ.)


Pinout & power notes

  • VDD/GND: logic power (3–5.5V). :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
  • VMOT/GND: motor power (8–35V). Add a nearby electrolytic capacitor to reduce spikes.
  • STEP/DIR: pulse STEP to move; set DIR for direction. Don’t leave STEP/DIR floating. 
  • MS1/MS2/MS3: select microstep mode; leaving them disconnected defaults to full-step (internal pulldowns).
  • RST/SLP/EN: power-state control pins (see A4988 datasheet; Pololu notes RST is floating and can be tied to SLP if unused). 

FAQ

  • Can I use this with a 6-wire or 8-wire stepper?
    Often yes—those can typically be wired as bipolar. 5-wire unipolar steppers are not compatible with this driver.
  • Why do I need a big capacitor on VMOT?
    Long power leads can create LC spikes that exceed the 35V rating and damage the board—even at 12V input. A 47µF+ electrolytic near VMOT helps protect it. 
  • Do I need a heatsink?
    If you’re pushing above ~1A/phase or have poor airflow, add heatsinking/airflow. The board can get very hot under load.

A4988 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier

A4988 Stepper Motor Driver Carrier

Low stock: 1 left

Product Code

POL1182

₱ 663.00
₱ 663.00
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